112 
PREPARATION OF MERCURIAL OINTMENT. 
pleasantness of having it about the shop during the operation of 
rubbing or triturating in a mortar. 
I resolved to adopt some labor-saving method, which was put 
into operation and succeeded beyond my expectations. Specimens 
were submitted to several persons, among whom was Daniel B. 
Smith of your city, and it met the unqualified approval of every 
one. Subsequently I sent to Dr. G. B. Wood my mode of opera- 
ting, who, in reply, requested I would communicate the same to 
you, which I herewith annex. My mode of preparing it, has been 
to use neats foot oil, and after forming the mixture with the mer- 
cury, to add suet to bring it to a proper consistency. Dr. Wood 
suggested another formula, which is to use lard oil, then to add 
stearine in proper proportions. I have no doubt but the latter 
would be equally good with the former, but perhaps no better for 
the desired purpose. The proportions of oil and suet, or stearine, 
may be varied to suit the climate and the season. 
Take of mercury any quantity — of oil, say one-third or one-half 
as much — put them into a stone bottle or jug of capacity sufficient 
to hold three or four times the bulk of the mixture ; having secure- 
ly wired the cork, attach the bottle to the saw-gate of a saw mill, 
(any other quick vertical motion may be adopted,) the mixture is 
there submitted to continual agitation for three days ; at the expi- 
ration of which time it will be found to be perfectly incorporated, 
and without the minutest globules of mercury being discernible. 
To this mixture add sufficient of suet or stearine to equal — with 
the oil already used — the quantity of mercury. The suet should 
be melted, then mixed, and stirred until cold. 
If the above is worthy your attention, you are at liberty to make 
such use of it as you may think proper. One thing is certain, in 
making the ointment, you always know that you have it of the 
proper strength, which is not equally so when bought from others. 
I remain, very respectfully, yours, &c, Peter V. Coppuck. 
[Note. — We see no objection to the process of our correspondent, on a 
small scale, except that the kind of motion described will not be found in 
the vicinity of most stores, which gives it but a local value. The sugges- 
tions of Fosembras and Simonin, (See U. S. Dispensatory,) to use a little 
oxidized lard, (or what is better, in my experience, an ounce of old simple ce- 
rate.^) in lieu of tin suet, will be found universally convenient by those 
who wish to prepare this ointment quickly and well. Any objection on the 
ground of the rancid cerate is more apparent than real. — Ed. Amer. Jour. 
Pharm.] 
